Case study of
#00093 Leave No Trace education and a 'pack it in, pack it out' ethic
United States
#00085
OngoingNational
Implementer
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, with NPS, US Forest Service, BLM, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Timeline
Since Jan 1, 1994
Location
United States39.8283, -98.5795
Description
Established in 1994 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in partnership with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Fish & Wildlife Service. The programme delivers the seven Leave No Trace principles through formal education curricula, on-site signage, and direct ranger contact across federal lands nationwide.
Lessons learned
- Voluntary adoption means the ethic reaches engaged outdoor users most effectively; casual or first-time visitors are harder to reach and may require additional targeted outreach at trailheads or entry points.
- The curriculum explicitly covers organics (food scraps, fruit peels) and micro-litter, addressing a common misconception that these items are harmless — replicators should include this framing in signage and education materials.
Documented Jun 26, 2026